Adjustable ground for plastering



May 11 1926. 1,584,110

' c.B.M cALLuM KDJUSTABHE GROUND FOR PLASTERING Filed Feb. 24. 1925 J1 'i I i w I! 1 l i J a W l k If ml'k J MM 16. 6. uvvszvrog.

Mam/J. 716% ATTORNEY Fatented ma 11, 1.926. 4

barren STATES PATENT oFFIcE'.

CHARLES IB. MOCALLUM, F OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

ADJUSTABLE GROUND FOB IPLASTERIIN'G.

Application filed February 24, 1925. Serial No. 11,042.

ing a plastered wall of uniform thickness and having parallel surfaces about an opening, such as a doorway or the like,

A further object of my invention is to provide a ground of the above character capable of simple rigid extension, sons to adapt the same to wall openings of various heights and widths.

Another object is to provide an adjustable ground that may be easily adjusted for use in plastering walls of different thickness.

Further objects and the structural features of the invention, will appear as'the description now proceeds with reference to the illustrations shown in the accompanying drawing.

In said drawing:

Figure 1 is a horizontal section of a wall construction about a doorway or the like, and illustrates the use of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of the ground assembly,

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the ground as it may be assembled for use at both the top and sides of a wall opening.

Fig. l is a detail view in front elevation of the ground assembly showing the adjustable securing means for the parts thereof.

Fig. is a detail view in cross-section of the adjustable cross strips along the line 55 of Fig. 4; and

Fig, 6 is a detail of the extension means as applied in use.

Referring now to the drawing in detail: A represents the plaster, B the studding and C the lat-hs.

In preparing to plaster about a wall opening, my improved ground is first assembled to meet the requirements of the opening and the same is then attached to the studding B.

When properly adjusted the uniform thickness and absolute parallelism of the plastered wall about the opening is assured.

To accomplish the objects of the invention, I prefer to produce the ground from a pair of channeled metal strips 1 and 2. The channeled construction of the strips may be realized by turning the edges of the strips so as to form guiding grooves presenting opposing channels, either round, square or otherwise shaped. The channels on the strips are made to receive metal inserts 3 and 4t, and the same areintended to slide in the channels for the length of the strips. These inserts are joined by overlapping bridge strips 5 and 6, which are preferably serts and struck from the metal blank from which the inserts are out. The inserts as above stated slidein the channels or guides of the strips 1 and 2, and the bridge strips 5 and 6 slidably overlap and are connected together to join the strips 1 and 2.

As best shown in Fig. 1, the strips 1 and 2 are intended to project beyond each edge of the studding B to a predetermined extent to gage the thickness of the plaster A. In order to accommodate the ground to walls of different thickness, the bridge strips 5 and 6 are'adjustably connected so as to enable the strips 1 and 2 to be set at the desired distance apart. This adjustability is preferably obtained by making a series of holes 7 in each bridge strip and aligning the same progressively and diagonally, so

that each set of holes may be engaged by a headed stud 8 for holding the predetermined adjustment.

To add rigidity to the assembly and to provide a guided sliding connection for the bridge strips, the strip 5 is made with an intermediate web 9 (Fig. 5) which is turned in to provide a grooved sliding guide for the strip 6. The back of the strip 5 is in the plane of the back of the strips: 1 and 2. In hanging the ground to a studding, a nail or the like 10 (Fig. 1) is inserted through the slotted hole 11 (Fig. 4) and partially driven into the studding.

WVhere the vertical dimensions of a door or other wall opening demands it, two or even more sets of the bridge strips with their accompanying inserts may be used for each pair of ground strips. In high openings and openings of unstandardized dimensions, the strips 1 and 2 may be assembled in sections by using two or more lengths of strips end to end and bridging the abutting ends of inserts, shown to best advantage in Fig. 6. The ground may be adjusted for length by simply separating the abutting ends of two or more strips to gain the length desired as shown by the dot-anddash lines at.

These inserts may also be used to interlock a pair of strips at right angles with formed integral with their respective inthe strips 1 and 2 to build up a ground frame across the top and down the sides Of the opening (Fig. 3). In this connection, one end of each of the inserts is made with a tongue 12 by reducing the width of the insert to fit in the space between the channels of the strips.

In assembling and applying the ground in any of the above described forms, the

same is usually attached to the studding by the temporary fastening nail or nails l0,and when all adjustments are made and the ground is properly set and plumbed,'nails or the like may be driven inthe holes 13 to hold the ground in place until its purpose has been accomplished, and then the nails may be withdrawn and the ground removed and made ready for the next set-up.

From the above it will be seen that I have produced an unusually durable device, simple to make and easy to assemble and capable of being used for any size wall opening by its adjustable and interengaging sectional parts. a

In the illustration of Fig. 2, the ground is shown adjusted for a maximum width of wall, and in Fig. 4C for a minimum width. The dot-and-dash lines in the latter figure indicate the limiting width of the ground for the numberor" holes shown.- 7

Having thus illustrated and described my invention in its preferred form, I wish it understood that the samemay be modified as practice suggests. Therefore, the patent protection that I desire, is all of that which comes Within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed. 1

Iclaim:

1. An adjustable ground ofthe class described, comprising a pair of adjustably connected strips. made in sections,'adapted to be joined end to end, and means slidably connecting the sections whereby the strips may be adjusted to a predetermined length.

2. In an adjustable ground of the class described, a pair of strips, said strips being channeled and made in sections and adapted to be joined end to end, means slidably engaging the said channels adapted to connect the sections end to end, or toseparate abutting ends so as to adjust the ground to a predetermined length, and means connecting the channel-engaging means for connecting the said pair of strips in spaced parallel relation.

. 3. In an adjustable ground of the class described, a pair of strips, said strips being channeled and made in sections and adapted to be joined end to end for increasing the length of the ground, means engaging the said channels adapted to connect the sections end to end, and means connecting the channel-engaging means for connecting the said pair of strips in spaced parallel relation, said last-named connecting means being adjustable for changing the parallel spaced relation of the strips.

7 4. In an adjustable ground of the class described, strips arranged in spaced parallel pairs, means for adjusting the spaced, parallel relation of said pairs, and means for connecting one pair of strips to another pair at. right angles to form a corner assembly in a wall opening. I t

5. In an adjustable ground of the class described, a pair of strips having channels formed on the same, means for connecting thefstrips in spaced parallel relation comprising inserts slidably engaged in said channels, and bridge strips connecting said inserts transversely of the first-named strips.

6. In an adjustable ground of the class described, a pair of strips having channels formed on the same, meansfor connecting the strips in spaced parallel relation comprising inserts slidably engaged in said channels, bridge strips connecting said. inserts transversely of the first-named strips, said bridge strips overlapping one another, and means connecting the bridge strips whereby the first-named strips may be adjusted in the spaced, parallel relation.

7. In an adjustable ground of the class described, a pair, of strips having channels formed on the same, means for connecting thestrips in spaced parallel relation comprising inserts slidably engaged in said channels, and bridge strips connecting said inserts transversely of the first-named strips, said bridge strips overlapping one another andmeans connecting the same for adjusting the spaced parallel relation of the firstnamed strips comprising a series of openings in one bridge strip adapted to register progressively with a series of openings in the other bridge strip, and means engaging the said openings for locking the bridge strips together. I r

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

' CHARLES B. MQoALLUM. 

